[[quoteright:256:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/cabal_5579.png]][[caption-width-right:256:You know what to do, soldier. Blow those damn [[RewardingVandalism buildings]] up with the enemy!]]

Cabal is a 1988 ArcadeGame developed by TAD Corporation. In this game, the player controls a commando, [[ThirdPersonShooter viewed from behind]], trying to destroy various enemy military bases. Two players could play this game, cooperatively, simultaneously.

The player's character is seen from behind and initially starts behind a protective wall. The player has a [[BottomlessMagazines limitless ammunition gun]] and a limited number of grenades. An enemy gauge at the bottom of the screen depletes as foes are destroyed and certain structures are brought down. Once it is depleted, you beat the level. All the remaining buildings onscreen collapse and the player progresses to the next stage while doing a rather... odd-looking VictoryDance while running.

The arcade cabinet has a trackball to move the player from side to side, and move the crosshairs about the screen. With a trackball, rolling is done by pushing the trackball to maximum speed.

This game was ported to the {{NES}} by {{Rare}}. It also spawned a SpiritualSequel, ''VideoGame/BloodBros'' (which is pretty much Cabal in the WildWest). See also ''VideoGame/WildGuns'' for the SNES, which is pretty much VideoGame/BloodBros [[RecycledINSPACE IN SPACE]].----!! '''Cabal provides examples of:'''

* AirborneMook: Helicopters and bomber planes. The first boss is also one.* AttackItsWeakPoint: The final Boss. It was [[http://arcade.svatopluk.com/cabal/cabal_20.png this building]] with [[CoresAndTurretsBoss many turrets popping out of the ground]]. In the Arcade version, the weak point was the building, however, the NES version makes you go for the turrets instead.** The third boss could also be one- defeating the turrets the truck hauled in would deplete its life bar, but destroying the truck would be an instant victory.* BackgroundBoss: Technically, every single boss is this.* BottomlessMagazines: You'd be glad you had them.* ContinuingIsPainful. Against bosses. If you die against a boss in 1-player mode, you have to fight the boss from the start again!* CoresAndTurretsBoss: The [[http://arcade.svatopluk.com/cabal/cabal_15.png fourth boss]], three turrets that popped out from the ground and SPAMMED bombs and shots. The final boss is also one.* DestructibleProjectiles: Most enemy projectiles can be destroyed by shooting at them. It's easier to dodge, though.* DoNotRunWithAGun: The player cannot move while firing.* FollowTheLeader: Ever since Cabal came out, ''many'' other games used the "character in foreground shooting enemies in background" format. Not all were successful...* FlunkyBoss: The final boss had infinitely-respawning turrets that spewed out countless amounts of bullets.** The third boss (a truck that hauled in a row of cannons) is also one, damaging the cannons would deplete the boss' health bar. But if you killed the truck, the boss would be instantly beaten.* InstantDeathBullet: Played straight against normal enemies, as well as the [[OneHitPointWonder player character]].* InstantWinCondition: Defeating the main section of the truck boss destroys all the cannons instantly, and ends the fight regardless of battle progress.* MadeOfIron: The white soldiers can take three hits before dropping to the ground, and even then they ''might not'' be really dead, as there's a chance that medics come in to take his fallen body away.* MadeOfPlasticine: Whatever the enemy tanks, army trucks, buggies, helicopters and jets are made of doesn't seem very strong- those vehicles are destroyed very quickly from a mere rifle (and even more quickly with a machine gun or shotgun)!* MookMaker: Truck enemies spawn more soldiers. The gates in 1-3 are also an example--if you don't destroy them, they'll periodically open to reveal a couple of soldiers who will fling a couple of grenades each at you before the gates close.* MoreDakka: The player's weapon.** GatlingGood: One of the weapons you could pick up it had a much higher rate of fire.* NoOntologicalInertia: When you manage to deplete the enemy gauge, every remaining enemy on screen dies, all enemy shots explode harmlessly, and all structures get destroyed. As for the {{flunky boss}}es, killing the main target will destroy all the flunkies too.* OneHitPointWonder: Get hit by anything, and you die.* OneManArmy: Or two, depending if there's a second player.* PainfullySlowProjectile: The enemy shots. But there's a lot of them, especially in later levels.* RandomlyDrops: ''Anything'' you destroy--not just enemy soldiers and vehicles, but structures and ''bullets''--has a chance to emit a grenade or a weapon power-up. This can be a bit annoying if you were expecting a 50,000-point plaque from that object you destroyed instead...* RewardingVandalism: Possibly one of the earliest examples- many buildings, structures and even parts of the environment can be destroyed. Many of them will release point objects (if the RandomlyDrops system doesn't decide to give you a weapon instead, anyway...), and destroying an object that crumbles down gradually, rather than just immediately shattering, will actually lower the Enemy gauge a bit.* ShootTheBullet: You can shoot down some enemy attacks, destroying them.* ShotgunsAreJustBetter: The shotgun weapon increased your attack size and did a lot more damage.* TakeCover: Like SpaceInvaders, your cover is only temporary. And those helicopters would just break it anyway.* TankGoodness: One of the enemies you'll fight. It's quite weak for a tank, though.* ThrowDownTheBomblet: You have a limited amount of grenades which you can use on the enemy.* UnnecessaryCombatRoll: Subverted. By doing a combat roll, you become immune to attacks! Unfortunately, white-uniformed soldiers have the same thing in mind too...* UrExample: There's a reason why many games such as ''VideoGame/BloodBros'', ''Devastators'', ''[=Nam1975=]'', ''GIJoe'' (arcade), ''VideoGame/WildGuns'', ''SinAndPunishment'' and ''ZombiePanicInWonderland'' are known as "Cabal Clones" (although the last three and ''improve'' it).* VehicularAssault: The first three bosses, a helicopter, a submarine, and a truck.* VictoryDance: You character combines this with a really girly-looking run and girly-sounding music once he beats a level.* VideoGameCrueltyPotential: Often, once you manage to take down a grey-uniformed soldier (it looks like you have to shoot him when he's aiming his gun or grenades at you), medics will run in with a stretcher and carry him away. Keep shooting the fallen soldier--or even ''the medics'' (they won't die)--and you'll generate a veritable swarm of grenades for your own use.* WolfpackBoss: The third boss, a [[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/cabaltruck_1490.png truck that hauled in many cannon turrets]]. It's best you quickly destroy the turrets with grenades or else you'll have very little room to dodge. Or just kill the truck.* WreakingHavok: A very early example in a video game.